Community Needs Assessment: Reader-Friendly Summary Four Square Community Action | Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Swain Counties | 2026 Purpose. This summary highlights the assessment’s main findings for community members, partners, funders, and decision-makers. It brings together community strengths, priority needs, survey results, and practical directions for action. How to use this summary. Start with sections 1–3 for the central messages. Explore sections 4–12 for topic findings, sections 13–14 for county perspectives and recommended actions, and section 15 for measures of progress. This summary should be read with the full Community Needs Assessment, which contains detailed tables, graphs, methods, and references. 1. At a Glance Four Square Community Action (FSCA) serves Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Swain counties in far western North Carolina. Strong local relationships and a culture of helping neighbors are key assets in these rural, mountainous communities. Persistent barriers include high costs, limited services, long travel distances, and unreliable infrastructure. Highest-priority needs •Affordable, stable, and safe housing •Childcare—especially care for children under age three •Affordable medical, dental, pharmaceutical, specialty, and behavioral healthcare •Reliable broadband and cell phone service •Transportation options that work beyond limited routes and hours •Food affordability and support for households just above eligibility thresholds •Disaster planning and access to recovery resources •Clear, accessible information about FSCA programs and eligibility Community assets •Strong collaboration among residents, service providers, schools, faith communities, and local organizations •Positive experiences among current and former FSCA clients •Established FSCA programs in Head Start, housing repair, weatherization, rental assistance, and basic-needs support •Local partners with practical knowledge of county-specific barriers 2. What Residents and Partners Said The assessment combined an online and paper survey with focus groups in all four counties. The survey ran from June 11 through July 20 and received 306 responses from adults who lived or worked in the service area. Survey coverage The 63-question survey covered demographics, disability, housing, childcare, food, transportation, safety, healthcare, communications, employment, behavioral health, disaster recovery, and experiences with FSCA. Focus group participation One focus group was held in each county between July 29 and August 4. Participants represented education, family advocacy, housing, transportation, early childhood care, food assistance, domestic-violence services, behavioral health, faith communities, and care management. Common messages across the counties •Residents value close-knit communities and organizations that work together. •Housing, childcare, and healthcare affordability and access are the most consistent concerns. •Transportation, broadband, and cell service shape access to nearly every other resource. •Behavioral-health and substance-use services are difficult to obtain. •Families need clearer information about available assistance and how to qualify. How to interpret the results. Participation was voluntary, questions were optional, and the survey was available only in English. The findings describe respondents’ experiences; they are not statistically representative estimates for all residents. 3. Priority Findings The assessment identifies connected challenges, not isolated problems. A household may face high rent, unreliable transportation, limited childcare, and distant healthcare at the same time. Coordinated responses can connect services and make it easier for families to navigate several systems. Priority What the assessment found Why it matters Housing Costs, utilities, repairs, limited supply, and vacation rentals strain residents. Housing instability affects health, employment, education, and family security. Childcare High costs, limited spaces, and few options for children under three create barriers. Parents may reduce work hours, leave jobs, or postpone education. Healthcare Cost, insurance, travel, and limited specialty services restrict access. Delayed care can worsen health and increase household expenses. Behavioral health Services are difficult to obtain, while substance use is widely viewed as a community problem. Limited treatment capacity affects individuals, families, schools, and public safety. Connectivity Many households report unreliable internet or cell service. Connectivity is essential for work, education, telehealth, emergencies, and benefits access. Disaster readiness Many residents lack plans or confidence that they can withstand another major disaster. Preparedness reduces harm and supports faster recovery. 4. Housing Housing affordability was a consistent concern in the survey and every county focus group. Even respondents who viewed their homes positively reported difficulty paying utilities, repairs, rent or mortgages, and other necessities after housing expenses. Regional data show that many renters and homeowners spend 35% or more of their monthly income on housing. Focus group participants described a shortage of affordable homes and pressure from vacation rentals on the supply available to local residents. What residents need •More affordable rental and homeownership options •Help with utilities, weatherization, urgent repairs, and rehabilitation •Better coordination among housing providers and landlords •Clear information about eligibility, waiting lists, and available assistance •Strategies that preserve year-round housing for local residents Key takeaway. Stable housing is a foundation for health, school attendance, employment, family stability, and disaster recovery. Potential response. Strengthen housing referrals, track unmet repair and utility needs, pursue additional funding, and convene partners to preserve affordable homes. 5. Childcare and Early Learning Childcare supports children’s development and enables parents to work or study. Families reported high prices, limited openings, staffing shortages, and few options for children under age three. More than 80% of respondents who needed childcare experienced at least one barrier. The full report lists licensed facilities in each county, but licensed capacity does not necessarily mean available openings. Childcare shortages contribute to missed work, reduced hours, employee turnover, and lost economic activity. Estimated annual losses range from about $1.7 million in Graham County to about $5.4 million in Cherokee County. Priority opportunities •Expand infant and toddler care, including options for children under three. •Support recruitment, training, and retention of childcare workers. •Help families understand subsidies and identify available openings. •Coordinate childcare with nontraditional work schedules and transportation. •Use new public investments to strengthen rural providers and increase capacity. Key takeaway. Childcare is both a family-support service and an economic-development strategy. Better access can support employment, education, household income, and school readiness. 6. Food Access and Household Finances Several economic indicators show greater hardship in the service area than statewide. Median household income is below the North Carolina figure in every county, while child poverty and food insecurity are elevated across all four counties. Most respondents could obtain healthy food, but 27.4% reported difficulty. Among those who identified a barrier, 87.0% selected cost. Some residents described financial strain despite earning too much to qualify for assistance. What this means •Food access is primarily an affordability problem for affected respondents. •Eligibility cliffs can leave working households without support. •Transportation, work schedules, health conditions, and local availability may compound cost barriers. •Food assistance should connect households to other supports, including utilities, housing, healthcare, and benefits navigation. Potential response. Strengthen food-provider partnerships, explain eligibility clearly, connect households above program thresholds to alternatives, and screen for related support needs. 7. Transportation Most respondents (86.2%) reported no transportation-access problem. For the 13.8% who did, transportation barriers could limit access to work, healthcare, food, childcare, and other essential services. Vehicle repair was the most frequently reported barrier among respondents with transportation problems. Other concerns included cost, lack of a vehicle, limited public-transit routes or hours, and uncertainty about where to seek help. Public transportation operates in every county, generally on weekdays and often by advance reservation. Taxis and rideshare services are not consistently available. Long distances and limited hours can leave residents without a workable option even where transit exists. Priority opportunities •Expand awareness of routes, scheduling, fares, and eligibility. •Coordinate transportation for medical care, childcare, employment, and food access. •Explore vehicle-repair assistance and flexible transportation funds. •Identify gaps outside standard weekday hours. •Use client feedback to measure missed trips and unmet demand. Key takeaway. Transportation affects fewer respondents than some other needs, but it is a gateway to nearly every service in this assessment. 8. Physical Healthcare Respondents and focus group participants identified high costs, inadequate insurance, long travel distances, and limited provider availability as barriers to healthcare. Obstetrics, gynecologic, dental, and other specialty services were particularly difficult to obtain. In the survey, 67.5% of respondents could routinely access a primary-care provider; 26.4% could do so only sometimes. Affordability concerns extended to medical care, dental care, and prescription medicines. County and regional concerns •Most counties have lower life expectancy than the state average. •Rural distance increases travel time and cost. •Dental access is limited, including care for Medicaid patients. •Focus groups identified gaps in labor-and-delivery and specialty care. •Transportation and connectivity can determine whether telehealth or distant care is practical. Priority opportunities •Improve referral navigation and transportation to regional providers. •Promote insurance and prescription-assistance resources. •Support mobile, visiting, and telehealth services where feasible. •Track the specialties and appointment types that residents cannot obtain. Key takeaway. A provider’s presence does not guarantee access. Care must be affordable, reachable, timely, and appropriate to the patient’s needs. 9. Behavioral Health and Substance Use Behavioral-health access and substance use were major concerns. Nearly 84% of respondents viewed drug or substance use as a community problem. Access to behavioral-health services was very difficult for 22.6% of respondents and somewhat difficult for another 18.7%. Barriers include limited service capacity, long travel distances, provider shortages, cost, insurance, stigma, and few in-person options. Focus groups also called for services tailored to children and families. Priority opportunities •Strengthen referral pathways for mental-health and substance-use treatment. •Expand in-person, mobile, and telehealth options where appropriate. •Support family-focused and youth-focused services. •Provide plain-language information about crisis and non-crisis resources. •Coordinate behavioral health with housing, transportation, healthcare, and recovery supports. Key takeaway. Awareness must lead to action. Residents need timely, affordable, trusted, and locally accessible pathways to behavioral-health and substance-use care. 10. Education and Employment K–12 schools and nearby community colleges provide education opportunities, but outcomes vary by county. Cherokee and Clay generally perform at or above state averages on graduation and several academic measures. Graham and Swain face greater challenges in mathematics and reading proficiency. Attendance and learning needs English-learner proficiency growth is below the state average in all four counties. Chronic absenteeism exceeds the statewide rate of 25% in every county. FSCA Head Start reported chronic absenteeism of 61% in 2024–2025 and 71% in 2025–2026. Employment and access to work Most survey respondents were working, including 61.3% who were employed full time. Focus groups emphasized the need for more local jobs to reduce commuting burdens. Childcare, transportation, health, and broadband all affect residents’ ability to obtain and maintain employment. Priority opportunities •Coordinate attendance strategies with families, schools, transportation, and health providers. •Increase support for English learners and students who are below grade-level proficiency. •Connect education and workforce programs to local employer needs. •Address childcare and transportation as workforce infrastructure. •Promote pathways through Tri-County Community College and Southwestern Community College. Key takeaway. Schools and job openings alone are not enough. Families need practical support that makes attendance and work possible. 11. Broadband, Cell Service, and Communication Reliable internet and cell service support work, education, telehealth, emergency response, benefits access and contact with family and service providers. Rural terrain and infrastructure gaps make reliable service difficult to obtain in parts of the region. In the survey, 22.3% of respondents lacked reliable internet at home. Among those who explained the barriers, 73.0% cited unreliable service and 40.5% cited cost. Cell coverage is also limited in parts of all four counties. Landline transitions and safety The transition away from copper landlines creates additional risks for remote households and systems that rely on voice service, including medical alerts, alarms, and emergency calls. Internet-based replacements may be less reliable during power outages. Priority opportunities •Map recurring service gaps reported by residents. •Provide information about affordable internet and device programs. •Help vulnerable households plan for landline transitions. •Coordinate connectivity planning with emergency management and healthcare partners. •Maintain telephone and in-person pathways for residents who cannot rely on digital access. Key takeaway. Digital access must not be the only doorway to help. FSCA information and applications should remain accessible to residents with unreliable service or limited digital skills. 12. Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Hurricane Helene highlighted the resilience and vulnerability of western North Carolina communities. In the survey, 72.3% of respondents reported no personal impact, while 26.8% reported being affected. Among respondents who described specific effects, power loss was most common. Property damage and interruptions to work or income were also frequent. Written responses described mental-health effects, impacts on relatives, internet outages, and efforts to help nearby communities. Readiness for future disasters Many residents expressed concern about future disasters. They reported limited confidence in their ability to withstand another event with existing support and lacked a clear disaster plan. Priority opportunities •Create simple household preparedness materials in accessible formats. •Identify residents who may need transportation, power-dependent medical support, or communication assistance. •Clarify FSCA’s role before, during, and after emergencies. •Coordinate with county emergency management, schools, healthcare, utilities, and faith communities. •Build continuity plans for FSCA services and client communications. Key takeaway. Preparedness is an ongoing need, not just a response after a storm. Formal plans should build on the region’s strong local networks. 13. County Perspectives County Selected strengths and needs emphasized in the report Cherokee County profile. Largest population and highest population density among the four counties. Focus group priorities. affordable housing, effects of vacation rentals and property taxes, healthcare, especially labor and delivery—transportation, and more childcare. Clay County profile. Lowest overall poverty rate among the four counties but persistent child poverty and food insecurity. Focus group priorities. childcare for children under three, affordable housing, specialty and maternity care, and more local employment. Graham County profile. Lowest median household income and highest overall poverty rate. Focus group priorities. obstetric and gynecologic care, homelessness, family stability, local employment, and behavioral-health access. Swain County profile. Lowest population density and highest food-insecurity rate among the four counties. Focus group priorities. childcare for children under three, transportation, affordable housing, in-person child mental-health services, and more dental providers serving Medicaid patients. Shared direction. Tailor strategies to county needs while coordinating regionally to reduce duplication, strengthen grant applications, and improve referrals across county lines. Equity lens. Consider the needs of households with low incomes, older adults, people with disabilities, families with young children, residents with limited transportation or connectivity, and communities facing language or geographic barriers. 14. Recommended Action Framework Use the assessment to build a coordinated plan around five practical strategies: 1.Make services easier to find. Use plain language, consistent eligibility information, current contact details, and multiple communication channels. 2.Connect related needs. Screen for overlapping barriers and use warm referrals—helping residents connect directly with providers—across housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, behavioral health, and disaster resources. 3.Build county partnerships around measurable gaps. Bring residents and providers together to address urgent local issues and share regional capacity. 4.Prioritize residents facing the greatest barriers. Design access around low incomes, disabilities, unreliable connectivity, limited transportation, and demanding work or caregiving schedules. 5.Use data for continuous improvement. Track unmet requests, completed referrals, wait times, service reach, and client outcomes. Suggested Near-Term Priorities •Create a concise, county-specific resource guide and referral process. •Develop a childcare expansion and workforce partnership focused on children under three. •Strengthen housing-repair, utility, and housing-stability coordination. •Map specialty healthcare, dental, behavioral-health, transportation, and connectivity gaps. •Prepare accessible household and organizational disaster plans. •Improve communication with applicants and clients about status, next steps, and available alternatives. Decision principle. Favor actions that address multiple needs, reach residents facing the greatest barriers, and produce results that can be measured over time. 15. Measures of Progress and Closing Message Pair each priority with a small set of indicators. These suggested measures can help FSCA and partners monitor progress without repeating the full needs assessment every year. Area Examples of measures Housing Households assisted; repairs completed; utility shutoffs prevented; unresolved housing requests. Childcare New infant/toddler spaces; families connected to care; subsidy navigation; wait time. Food Referrals completed; households above eligibility thresholds connected to alternatives. Transportation Trips arranged; vehicle-repair assistance; missed trips; after-hours gaps. Healthcare Primary, dental, specialty, and behavioral-health referrals completed; travel barriers resolved. Connectivity Households connected to affordable service; reported dead zones; nondigital access maintained. Disaster readiness Household plans completed; vulnerable residents identified; partner exercises conducted. Client experience Response time; clarity of information; referral completion; client-reported benefit. Closing Message Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Swain counties have strong communities, committed organizations, and residents who help one another. These assets provide a foundation for coordinated action to make housing, childcare, healthcare, food, transportation, communication, and disaster support easier to afford, reach, and understand. FSCA can convene partners, connect residents to resources, and use the assessment to guide funding and program decisions. Progress depends on listening to residents, reducing administrative barriers, communicating clearly, and measuring whether services improve stability and self-sufficiency.